Jail Break (2)

--Gatix--

The tendril burst from the ground before I could take a second step, the impact slamming into my shoulder and almost knocking me off my feet.

“I suspected you might come.” The tendril withdrew as a second one rocketed forward. I ducked and it slammed into the wall in a shower of rubble.

“Nev, half power-”

“Not this time.” The next tendril launched from the side, the block slamming into my hands to send Scythe skittering across the floor. Shit! I was torn between diving for the weapon or launching myself forward and letting my fists do the talking. That second of indecision was all the mage needed to curl a tendril around my neck. No, no, no... I braced myself as the tendril started tugging, but the warm glow in my hand and a wild flail broke me free from the tendril's pull. That didn't stop the momentum from throwing me against a wall.

“You are tenacious.” The mage launched two more tendrils I managed to dodge. The motion put me within a step of my target, but my punch was stopped by a familiar blue shield. “You thought it would be that easy?”

“Dammit!” A tendril yanked my feet out from underneath me and sent me on a collision course with the ground. “Nev!”

“Your glove is broken.”

“Anything else?!”

“Sheer power might be able to do it.”

My eyes fell on Scythe lying on the opposite end of the room. “Get ready, Nev!” I punched a hole through the tendril around my foot with my still-warm hand. A roll to the side managed to dodge the two shooting in my direction. Go, go, go... I pressed against the ground, my intention to leap toward Scythe, but my right foot merely slid against the floor and reacquired with the floor, a tendril reattached.

“Time to die, Gatix-”

A fireball burst against his shield. I knew only one person capable of doing that.

“Gatix... go...”

I managed to get to my feet as a second fireball detonated. Two tendrils flung out despite the distraction, one aiming for my chest, but a dive forward successfully dodged that problem. The second one curled around Scythe's barrel, raising it out of reach.

“I told you, not this-” Another fireball exploded against the mage's shield. “And I told you, that won't work.”

“Nev! Full power!”

“Yes, Agent-”

“Remote fire, now!”

BANG.

The clap made my ears ring. A wall, and several others behind it, exploded as if struck by a hammer. But most impressive? The reason I could handle a weapon such as Scythe, other than significant amounts of training, was the suit absorbing its recoil. The tendrils had none of that. When the shot blew out, the physical laws formed by a smart man demanded the gun's recoil launch itself in the other direction.

Which it promptly did.

As the mage, and likely Ms. Queen as well, switched to covering their ears while figuring out what had happened, I wasted no time pulling Scythe from the wall.

“No!” The mage seemed to be the first to recover. “Rank-” A pillar of flame enveloping him cut off the remainder of his spell and gave me plenty of time to raise Scythe.

BANG.

The blast punched a hole through the pillar of fire and several walls behind it. I expected something akin to a corpse or a giant smear of blood when the pillar receded, but there was nothing. I knew all too well what that meant.

“See you soon.”

“Gatix.” Nev never calls me by name. “Ms. Queen.”

“Oh no...” Only one corner was left undisturbed throughout the fight, and that is where I found her. A large blood stain covered the wall behind her, and a smear stretched to the door. “Ms. Queen!”

“Sorry I took a while.”

“What happened to you?” The question didn't really need asking: the blood seeping through the fingers where she held onto her chest was evidence enough. I barely had enough time to re-clip Scythe to my back before I reached her.

“I knew it was a trap, but he... he got me as I came through the door. I didn't expect him to react so quickly.” She winced in pain. “Speared me right through the chest. Would... would have decapitated me if you didn't show up.”

“Some luck then.”

“A few minutes... earlier... would have been better.” The smile showed her blood-stained teeth.

“Can we do something? Is there anybody that can heal you?”

“In my capital, yes, but we're too far. Not enough energy...” Sparks danced around her fingers when she raised her hand, but they weren't as bright as before.

“Don't tell me you used it all up just now...”

She only smiled at that. “No need... for both of us to meet our... end.”

“Quit talking like that. We'll get you-”

“Gatix.” Her fingers tightened their grip around mine. “There's no coming back... from this one...”

“You're telling me, the great and terrible demon queen, is going to let herself be killed by an alchemist instead of the anointed Knight?”

“The universe has a way with humor, does it not?”

“Well, I don't.” I tried to push my arms underneath her, but she hissed in pain as soon as I touched her.

“Don't...” She didn't open her eyes again. “It hurts... too much.”

“Not going to leave you to die-”

“Gatix. It's okay.”

“No, it's not.” I hung my head. “No, it's not.”

“It's okay. I'll meet you again... on the planes of Xani.”

“I'm not void-born. I doubt I'll be welcome there.”

“Wear that suit, and maybe you will.” She laughed lightly as she closed her eyes.

I could only nod. I could fight against many things in life, but the Reaper was the one foe I've only managed to delay. If Ms. Queen was stabbed through the chest... I could already hear him sharpening his scythe. But my mind refused to accept that fact.

“Nev? Do you have any healing algorithms in the back of your mind?”

“I am sorry, Agent. My skill set is limited to information gathering and controlling your suit.”

I knew it, but sucked to hear it.

“You know it's a lost cause when even the spirits can't help you anymore, Gatix.”

“Nev never considered himself to be omnipotent.”

But...

“Ms. Queen, are you sure there is absolutely nothing anybody can do for you in here? Even if we were to pressure one of the Wolani mages to help you?”

She shook her head only ever so slightly. “A wound of this magnitude requires specialist care. I know of only... two others who may be able to assist me.”

“Do you mind if I try something?”

“You?” She opened a solitary eye to look at me.

“I'm saying it will work, but I am asking you to trust me.”

“You need to ask?” She closed her eyes with a smile. “I trusted you since the tower.”

“Nev?”

“Yes, Agent.”

“Prep the teleporter.”

“Agent, surely you are not-”

“Prep the teleporter. And do it now.”

“Yes, Agent.”

“I'm going to wrap my arms around you. Sorry if this hurts.” She could only nod in return. Moving onto my knees, I slowly slid one arm around hers while the other supported her back. I mentally apologized for every hiss of pain.

“Agent, I am obliged to inform you the action you're about to take has not been tested before.”

“Then let's make sure we get Dax some new data.”

“Teleporter is prepped.”

“Don't keep me waiting at the end.” With her bloodied lips blooming into a smile, I gave Nev the order, and the world disappeared in a flash.